300,000 North Koreans have fled to China risking their lives to flee the mass starvation and brutal oppression of the Stalinist North Korea Kim Jong regime.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Posturing delay on any six-party talks

The U.S. has reiterated that it will seek a resumption of six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program only after an investigation into the sinking of the South Korean Navy corvette Cheonan is complete. If there is clear evidence supporting that sinking on March 26 was caused by North Korea, the U.S. could put pressure on North Korea in partnership with South Korea and the UN.

Meanwhile, Jang Song-taek, the administration director of the North Korean Workers' Party, seems more firmly established, judging from Kim Jong-il's recent China trip. Jang, who is Kim's brother in law, was seated closer to the leader than his nominal rank warrants during official events on the trip, including a welcoming banquet hosted by Chinese President Hu Jintao.